Typewriting machine



-Dec. 28 1926. I

V H. L. PITMAN TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed August 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28., 1926.

H. L. PITMAN TYFEWRITING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed August 30. 1924 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

tlh lTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. PITMAN, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, AS SIGNOR TO UNDERFWOOD TYPE- VJRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAXVARE.

TYPEWRITING ll/IACHINE.

Application filed August 30, 1924. Serial No. 735,085.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for transmitting motion to a fan-folded work-web having carbon-sheets interleaved between its several plies, for the purpose of advancing the same to the printing line of a typewriting machine, such as the standard Underwood billing machine, and to permit this feeding motion to take place during the line-spacing action of the platen in a positive manner.

In the type of machine of which the Underwood typewriting machine is an eX- ample, it is customary to provide an extension table in back of the platen in a manner to support a carbon-carrier, which is movably guided thereon and which holds a plurality ot' carbon-sheets which are interleaved between the plies of the fan-folded workweb. Means are provided for swinging the platen-frame to a position where, upon casting oil of the pressure feed-rolls from the platen, the work-web can be drawn upon practically horizontally, and thus be pulled around the platen to a usual gage, so as to measure the length of a printed form on the web, and to prepare this form for a severing action along the edge of a tcaringoi'l' knife. In order not to cut off any portion or the carbon-sheets at the same time the carbon form is severed, means are provided in the type oi machine under consideration tor retracting the carbon sheets back of the platen just previously to pulling the form towards the gage.

Owing to the inertia produced by the weight of the carbon-carrier, the carbonsheets and the web, it frequently happens that the web and carbon-sheets are not fed along during the" rotation of the platen incidental to this line-space action, the platen slipping relatively to the web, so that it becomes necessary to overcome this slipping tendency.

()ne of the main objects of the present invention is to accomplish this foregoing result by novel mechanism which is so arranged and designed that it will positively operate intermittently, and as often as the paper-carriage makes a complete reciprocation to create slack upon the work-web and the carbon-sheets interleaved therewith in back of the platen just prior to the rotation of the platen as it is being line-spaced by the usual line-spacing lever. The mechanism for looping or creating slack upon the web is manually-controlled and functions to place the work-web under slack Without causing any simultaneous movement upon the platen, and to automatically restore it to normal position at the end of the typing action which has taken place against the platen.

Another object of the present invention is to provide simple, efiicient and inexpensive means for looping the carbon-sheets at the same time that the web is being looped, and to accomplish this purpose it becomes necessary to reverse the action that has heretofore taken place in the process of looping the web with the carbon-sheets interleaved between its plies. Other devices operate to create a loop upon the composite web, but in doing so those devices which employ the carbon-carrier have provided means for moving the carrier, so as to cause it to move the web upon itself, thereby creating the loop. But in the present invention it is the web which directly impresses movement upon the carbon-carrier; in either event the looping of the web cannot take place with out causing the carbon-carrier or other means, acting as a substitute therefor, to move in the direction of and towards the platen, because during such movementthe carbon-sheets held upon the carrier are moved with the web, it being understood that the web comes from a source of supply back of the typewriting machine whereas the carbon-sheets are mounted directly upon the carbon-carrier and initially lie at the rear of the table which extends in back of the typewriter proper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carbon-carrier with a brake yieldably engaging the table upon Which the carrier is movably guided, so as to prevent any retrograde movement on the part of the carrier, without which the loop could not be formed upon the web when the carrier is advanced toward the platen, while a pulling action is exerted upon the web, as is'the case with the present invention. The usual web clamp mounted upon said carbon-carrier is supported, together with the brake, upon manually-controlled means upon the carrier which function to simultaneously disengage both the clamp and the brake from the base plate of the carbon-carrier and the table, respectively.

In carrying out the hereinbetore men tioned objects, means are provided which are till Fit)

positioned in back of the platen in such a manner that during the shitting of the paper-carriage back to initial position to the point where it begins its movement (incidental to the typing action which takes place during the depression of the usual typewriter keys), this means becomes active and operates to bow. or arch the web which is stretched out longitudinally upon the table, due to the action of the tensioning means which holds the web onto-the platen, and the Figure 1 is a sideelevation, partly in sec tion, of the present invention niou ted upon a billing typewri'ting machine.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, partly broken away, taken on line AA of Figure 1', looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a yieldable wedge.

Figure l is a side view, partly in section, of the line-spacing mechanism.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modification thereof.

In the drawings, which are merely illustrative of the invention, designates the platen of a standard Underwood typewriting billing machine, or the like, which is rotatably mounted upon a carriage 1O directly over the apron 11 which forms a continuation of the usual paper shelf 12, a platenshaft 11 being journa led in the usual platenfraane 13, which, in this type of invention, is mounted on a swinging frame (not shown) for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The cylindrical platen 10 is rotated during its line-spacing action, through the usual gearing, by a ratchet wheel 14: which is rotated by a spacer slide 15 operated by a spacer-lever 17, said space-lever having its hub 16 suitably pivoted and terminating in a handle 18, which is movable in a guide 19. 2O designates the usual type-bars which swing in the direction of the platen so as to engage the same, and which carry the usual type surfaces 21. 22 designates a tea-ringoti" knit which positioned just above the print'ng line and at a point convenient for 7 oil each length of printed form of a composite or iantolded work-web A. The usual iced pressure rollers 23 and 24: are provided for applying tension against the platen to press the web against the platenso as to assure the web being carried along dun ing the line-spacing of said" platen. A gagebar 26 is operatively secured at an inclination upon the front shelf of the machine and adjustab'ly mounted upon this bar is a gage 27 which is secured in juxtaposition by means of the usual thumb screw 28. A re lease lever 29 is also shown, which, when depressed in a conventional manner, allows the platen-frame to be manually lifted to position the web held by the platen, :so that it occupies the same level with the table 36, to allow the web to be conveniently manipula-ted and held while the operator is man-na lly retracting the carbon-carrier towards the rear of the table, therebv separatin the carbon-sheets from the printed form that is about to be gagged and then detached.

Upon a rail 30 the paper-carriage 10 is movably guided at one point rectilinearly so as to ha e a forward and backward stroke thereupon, the forward stroke being intermittently impressed thereon during the successive depression of the typing keys, and the backward stroke being imparted thereto in the act of manua lly shifting the papercarriage back to initial position just after during line-spacing action of the platen. A rear rail 31 is engaged by the rollers 32 which are journaled upon brackets 33 secured upon the table 36, the rail 31. being mounted upon a main frame 34 which forms an 'extension of the usual typewriting machine. A turn-rod 37 is mounted on arms at the rear of the table and trained thereover is a tan-folded web A, after it leaves its source of supply. The longitudinal sills of bar 39, together with the brace rods 40, make up the table. The carbon-carrier is movably guided upon the table by means of grooved rollers 41 mounted thereupon which roll upon the rails mounted upon the table longitudinally, these rollers being journaled in holders 42 secured to the base plate 43 of the carbon-carrier. Stepped uprights l i are also mounted upon the carboncarrier in the usual manner, and support in staggered and superimposed relation, the carbon-holding fingers 45 which project into the liolds oi carbonsheets l5 which are intering arm 48 which is also formed with a limger-piece 49 spaced in advance of the other finger-piece 51. The handle-bar 50 is formed All iii

with an elongated slot 53 in which projects slidably a pin 52 mounted upon the handlebar 48. A retractable spring 55 has one end secured to a lug 56 on the standard 47, and has its other end similarly secured upon a lug 54 formed upon the handlebar 50,

this spring serving normally to hold the finger-pieces 51 and 49 in spaced-apart relatlon.

58 designates an adjustable stop engaging the rail 35 and serving to limit the backward movement of the carbon-carrier, so as to position it initially. A spring-brake is provided in the shape of a pressure spring 61 which bears against the rail 35 having its inner end fixedly secured at ti2upon the arm 59 of bell-crank-lever 59-. This springbrake offers resistance against the forward movement of the carbon-carrier, and at the same time prevents the retrograde movement thereof.

The mechanism for creating slack upon the web will now be described. Extending transversely beneath the table 36 is a track 34 supported upon the main frame 34, as shown particularly in Figure 2. Arranged to be secured preferably between the ends of the track 34 is a wedge or cam which is mounted upon the track as follows. A base plate 65 is adj ustably secured upon the track 34 by means of fastener pins 64, which pins also project into an elongated slot 66 formed upon this base plate 65, the pins having heads 6? overlying the latter. The arrange-- ment of the slot and pins is such as will permit the base plate 65 to be secured adjustably of the track 84 A boss or standard 68 is formed upon the bar 65 and carries an outwardlyextending pivot pin 69 upon which is fulcruined one end of a lever 70 acting as a wedge, cam, or inclined plane, the outer end of this lever 70 being beveled at 71, and this beveled edge resting upon the track 34 so as to dispose the lever at a downward inclination. To assist in yieldably mounting this wedge lever 70, a lug 72 is formed laterally upon this lever, and pressing against-the lug downwardly, is a flat spring 73 secured at 73 upon the standard 68, as shown clearly in Figure 3.

A roller 7 4, which may be made of rubber,

is j ournaled upon a pin 15 mounted in a post 76, the upper end of which is secured as at 88, upon a cross-bar or follower 77, said cross-bar having downwardly-extending arms 78 secured thereto at opposite ends, as shown at Figure 2, which arms have curved portions 7 9 which are secured at their outer ends upon lugs 80 formed right angularly upon levers 81, the latter being fulcrumed upon pivot pins 82 mounted upon posts 84 suspended from the table 36, the posts 84 being secured by fasteners 85 upon the table. Leaf springs 83 are coiled around the pins 82, and are held in pressed engagement upon roller engages the cam about to be described,

and then the stop is lifted out of engagement with said rail.

86 designates a pin secured. at the inner end of the table 36 and serving to limit the forward movement of the carbon-carrier.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The web leaves its source of supply, is turned over the rod 37 and extends upon the carbon-carrier with the carbon-holding fingers 45 projecting into the folds of the web, the carbon-sheets 46 being interleaved between the plies of thisweb. Beyond the carbon-carrier the web is stretched horizontally so as to contact with the follower 77, said web being stretched through the agency of the usual feed pressure rollers 23 and 24 which hold it against platen 10, the spring brake 61 serving to hold the carbon-carrier I as the web is being stretched. It will be understood that the pressure rollers 23 and 24 exert more tension than the spring-brake this being rendered necessary at the time the mechanism is operated to bow or arch the web, as shown clearly in Figure l, in which event either the tension rollers 23 and 24 or the spring-brake 61 must be displaced, and it is designated that the brake 61 shall be displaced, as it isnecessary to hold the web in proper relation against the platen by means of the feed-rollers 23 and 24 for line spacing purposes, as well understood by those skilled in the art.

During the typing action the paper-carrlage 1O moves from right to left, carrying with it in the same rectilinear direction, and while it is thus making its forward stroke, the platen 10, the table 36, and the auxiliary frame consisting of the follower '77 and the roller 74. Finally the carriage reaches the end of its forward stroke, and it becomes necessary to shift it back to normal position from left to right. The typist does this manually, and in the Underwood typewriting machine, the typist takes hold of the line-spacer handle 18 and pushes the same from left to right at the same time that the paper-carriage is being shifted from left to right, back to normal positiou. [he spacer slide 15 operates in a well known manner to impart motion to the gears 14 which are effective to rotate the platen 10, which rotation will cause the web to be advanced a distance of one or more line space or spac is, as the care may be, thereby causing the carbon-carrier to advance, so as to carry along the carbon-sheets with the web, up to the printing line of the machine.

tends transversely across the table 36 to upset, arch or bow the web and interleaved carbon-sheets, as shown in dot and dashlines in Figure l. The roller 74: moves to the extreme upperpoint of the wedge 70 and then drops off and continues its movcment to the extreme right one of the track 3%, at which point the paper-carriage has completed its backward stroke and is positioned again normally and. is ready to make its forward stroke during the ensuing typing action.

Immediately as the web is strained and arched by the follower 77, owing to the fact that the feed-rollers 28 and 2% hold the web stationary against the platen 10, a pull is exerted upon the carbon-carrier by the web as it moves vertically of the table in .a plane at right angles to the direction to which it is longitudinally fed by the platen. As the carbon-carrier thus moves toward the platen the carbon-sheets undergo the same arched curvature that has been impressed upon the web by the follower 77, the spring-brake 61 being overcome yieldably, the latter movement of the carbon carrier being induced by the web A. The moment the roller 74 drops down in the back of the wedge 70,. the spring 83 serves to restore the lever arms 81 to nor mal horizontal position, thereby retracting :the follower 77 to normal position just slightly above the table 36, and playing out or placing under slack the web and interleaved carbon-sheets which are thus suitably looped, the spring-brake 61 serving to prevent the retrograde movement of the carboncarrier, so that the loop of the web is disposed between the carbon-carrier and the platen.

he paper-carriage moves again from right to left, as typing action proceeds, until it reaches the end of its forward stroke, and due to this forward movement of the paper-carriage, the roller 7% is starting to move on the track 34 from right to lett. It will be understood that the post 76, as shown in Figure l, is spaced out of contact or adjacent the side of the wedge lever .70., so that during the forward movement of the carriage the roller Tel moves directly beneath the wedge 70 until it engages the bev eled edge 71 thereof and lifts this end of the wedge upwardly until the roller has passed beyond the wedge. at which time the leaf spring 73 snaps the lever back in contact with the track '34; the roller 74 finally reaches the left end of the track 8% at which time it is positioned for the next backward stroke of the papei carriage.

Before this backward stroke occurs, the

typist has again manipulated the spacer handle T8, and has line-spaced the platen 1O rota-tive ly, so as toadvance and take up the loop portion B of the web and interleaved carbon-sheets, and in doing so the platen does not haveto overcome-the inertia of the carbon-carrier, which still remains stationary, so that the platen cannot slip relatively to the web, and is disposed to move the web a proper number of lines up to the printing line of the machine. In the same way the paper-carriage is successively reciproca-t-ed incidental to each typing action and each line typed upon the web, until a printed form on the web has been sutficiently typed to call for the separation of this form from the other forms.

In order to separate this typed form, the typist releases the release-lever 29 of the swinging platen-frame in a manner well understood in the art, and swings the platenframe upwardly, and at the same time releases the feed rollers 23 and 24 from engagement with the platen; by virtue of this action the typed printed form is disposed horizontally and is then pulled bet-ween the platen and the feed rollers 23 and 24-, and its leading edge is advanced over the gagebar 26 and made to contact the gage 27. As the printed form is being gaged, however, the'typist with one hand engages the fingerpieces 51 and 49 simultaneously, and while the other hand pulls the finger-piece 51 forward, the finger-piece 49 instantly disengages the spring-brake 61 from frictional contact with rail 85 and also disengages the spring-finger 60 from the lip 60. As this action takes place the typist pushes the handle-bars 50 and 48 backwardly which results in pushing backwards the carbonca-rr-ier which undergoes this movement independently and relatively to the web, the carbon-sheets, however, being retracted with the carbon-carrier until the leading ends thereof have been retracted to a point just above the printing line to allow the printed typed form to be detached. The printed typed form is then drawn against the edge of the tearing-elf knife 22, and is cut oft while the carbon-sheets are still interleaved with the next preceding printed form and under slack. It may thus be seen that the mechanism provided herein for looping the web operates in time with the platen, so that I the steps of operation of taking up the loop and forming the loop are successive; because the platen, when it is lined-spaced, rotates and advances the loop portion of the web just as soon as it is finished; and while the paper-carriage is still movingbackwardly a fresh loop is formed upon the web instantaneously. I

In some types of typewriting machines the typing action makes the paper-carriage move from eft to right, and then of course, the looping action must take place synchronously, and this makes it necessary to position the cam or wedge in a manner shown in Figure 5, where it inclines in just the opposite direction to that shown in Figure The operation otherwise is the same as has already been explained.

Of course the length of the lines typed on any printed form may be varied, so that the distance the paper-carriage moves during its forward and rearward stroking may be lengthened or shortened accordingly. Still it is necessary in this event to operate the web-loopingmechanism during the backward stroke of the paper-carriage. So it is necessary to adjust the bar 65 longitudinally of the track 34 at the proper point to assure that before the paper-carriage completes its backward stroke, the roller 7% will have completely traversed the inclined plane of wedge 70, so as to timely actuate the weblooping mechanism.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a letter-feeding carriage,-a platen mounted therein, a web arranged to be advanced by said platen, and means movable relatively to the carriage for slackening said web, said slackening means connected to said carriage to be controlled thereby.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a letter-feeding movable carriage, a platen revolubly mounted therein, a movable carbon-carrier, and means actuable by said -arriage and engaging the work-web for actuating said carbon-carrier to produce a slack in the web.

3. In a web-typewriting machine, the combination of a paper-carriage, means for imparting a reciprocatory movement thereto, a platen rotatably mounted in said carriage, a carbon-carrier, means on said carrier holding the work-web, a friction brake against the tension of which said carboncarrier moves, means controlled by said paper-carriage and, engaging said web for attesting a shade in the Wane Trlmms tea releasing said brake, to allow said carrier to be retracted relatively to the web.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a frame, a carbon-carrier movably guided thereupon, web-feeding means positioned in advance of said carrier, the web being tensioned against said feeding means, and means movable at an angle to the course of movement of said carrier and imparting a forward movement to said carrier effective to loop the web between said carrier and web-feeding means. 1

5. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion of a frame, rails thereupon, a carboncarrier guided upon said rails, a spring brake for the carrier, manual means for actuating said carrier, means for releasing said brake, means causing said carrier to move in a plane at right angles to the rails, and means moving with the last-named means and engaging the work web for looping the same against the opposition of said brake so as to create slack upon said web.

6. In a typewriting machine. the combination of a frame, a paper-carriage, means engaging one end of the .work-web for pulling the same along, means for holding the web stationary, friction meansengaged by said web back of said carriage and actuating the latter when said web is arched, web-archmg means having a forward and backward stroke in unison with said carriage, and means becoming active during. the forward stroke only of said carriage for actuating said arching means.

7. Ina typewriting machine, the combination of a paper-carriage, a follower reciproeating with said carriage, a worlnweb being normally stretched in contact with said follower and arched thereby during the reciprocatory movement of the carriage, and a spring restoring said follower to normal position whereby the arched portion of. said web is placed under slack.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion of a table, a paper-carriage connected with said table, the work web travelling longitudinally of said table, means on said carriage for feeding said web along, a carboncarrier movable on said table. a track at right angles to said table, a follower having rolling contact with the said track. means tensioning said web, and means disposed. along the track and engaged by said follower for causing said web topull upon said carrier while said web-feeding means is inactive.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a paper-carriage, a table moving therewith, the work-web moving over said table, means on said carriage for line-spacing said web, a frame pivotally mounted below said table, means controlled by said car ge ipr elevating said frame, means ergi ti-ib and give? thereupon; and means COll'fifdllGd' by said frame as itisele'i'ate'd' 'for causing said web to' pull said" tensioning means; said'*' frame being automatically retiu'nedtu norn'ialpesition whereby said W'QbiS put under" slack.

10. In atypewriting' maehine, the coinhina-tion ofa paper-ca1'i'iage, wfahle seem-ed therebeyond, a fi'alne'pivoted beneath said table, a follower 'extendingiiausversely 'over saidtabl-e', means conneeting'said follower upon said frame, means fern'i'annally" shifting said carriage, the" work we'b' being stretched evel-said tabie'hi' C(ilfiiltit with said followersaid frame moving pivotii llys te cause said follower to loop said web; and means operable dining the'inovein entofsaid carriage for actuating said frame-Q 11. In a typew'riting machine; the combination bf 3;1511111165"it trackthBTQIlPOlf, a cam on said crack; a table ineving longitudinally of said track, a Web moving} longitudinally ofsaid table, a" .fi'ame' moving with" said table, a paper-cmiage for'said table-means Controlledby saidfi'aine for stretching said web, and ineans'centrolled by said 'caTWfoi' actiiat-ing said frame.

12: Ina fiypeavrifiing machine, theconi-bi' l'l'e moving alongside sa-itd'ti'eclzz a frainepix .t ally suspended up-n sni dis-hie, a roller pro- ,jectin'g' fl'msai'd fii'al'ne" and n'mvahle'"from end teend ef said ti'aclc' a" ca'i'irdis 'io Yd between the en'd'soi saidtrack and'enga acnle'by' Silld l'oll'el 'SOflSl'O'iIlli' theft work-web on said table, means 'com'aei said table for tensio'nin'g said Weir Van'eeihei'e'oi and holdingit sta iienary-- a carrier" mova ii guidedon said" tahlea nd releasably holding I sai d web. and me anscontrolled by:- saidframe as it= istiltedfoi advancings-aid'ca-r1iei to 'ca se it te leo'p said web.

13; In a typexirit'ing machine, in combi nation, a frame havingalrack, acain dis pes'ed bEZiAi'GQI'I' the" ends'o'i said track;- a frame making a forward stroke from" end'to end of said track, a'' post projecting time said frame, a i'oller'join'iialedinsaid post and riding: 0x 01 said cam" du'ring' the" foi Ward-stroke of said frame, nl'e'a'ns' moving the wrk-wveb inenkliriactionl means hold ing said web againstretrogrademovement,

means opei'able 1111611 the engagement of said roller with saidcam for leopingsaid web, means causing said franiedo make a backward stroke and el'feeti ve'te =ca1'ry' sa'i d roller along therewithduring' this stroke, and n'leans-whereby said roller d'iirin'giits reverse" movement" onsaid ti'a'clr may displace said cam.

14. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a htable, a cai'bon eairiei' movably guided thereover, a base pl'al'e on said carrier, means forclainpingfa' Web upon said' base 'plaie", a springbrakeon said cari'ier frietion'allyengaging said tableas said carrier IDOVCS, means on said table for moving; said carrier; and means'on Said Qai'rier for simultaneouslyreleasingsa-i'd clamp and brake.

154111 a device of the kind described. the c'o'rnbination of a table; a- C'ZU'iJOll-Cfil'llQl' n'iovably guided thereupon, a luralit of carb'e'ir sli'ee-fs' held v upon said carrier and prbje'cting- Beyond said ta 'bl'eg a spring-brake on said carrier for tensioni'n pj the 'ineveni'en't thereof uijOl'YSdlCl table 'to' Hold said'cai'bonshe'ets against i'etro'gi'ade movement, man sally-controlled means for intei 'ttently engaging sa-id ca rben-sh'eets for moving the latter vertically andfalso 'mevinglhe'carriei' hniiz'q'mcallysaid carbon-sheets heingpl'aced under slack as saidlast nainedmeans We inaetive; a" work web contacting Wifih said erbon she'els' anii' nioi'i therewith, a revohih'le pla ten'band meansfer tenr-ieningsaid Web and cai'ben-sheefs ai ainst' said platen for feeding along the loo l poi-cion of said c'a iho'n-sheel's and sa i d \i'eh;

161' In'a devie'e'oi the kin'd"describech-ihe combination of a" ta ls; acarfier m'OVa bl y gmi'de'd th'eieup'on, a base plate on" sai d ca 1'- i-ier, a hell-crank lever inlcrumed on said a-clani'p cai'ried hysai'd bell-crank le kei fer p'res'sing a WO'i'k-Web upon said base" pl'z'i te, a spring-brake fashene'd upon said hell ciank lever and i 'ii'etion'ally engagingg saidtable, adi'z-ndle' for moving said cai' 'i'e'i', and manually-centrelied means on said handle for o' ae iating said bell-cram: leveftddiseng a'sres dcl'ainflfriixh said base alt'e fromsaicFt-alfle. 

